Game kits



Nov. 17, 1959 F..A| AT0RRE 2,913,137

GAME KITS Filed Dec. 4, 195e v 2 shee'S-sheet 2 ATTORNEY!) Thepresent invention relates to game kits and more particularly to a compact, readily portable kit including accessories by means of which a number of games may be played without the necessity of carrying numerous individual bulky elements which are needed in playing the various types of games.

One of the objects of the present invention is to'provide a game kit which consists of a container for receiving the game pieces forming component parts ofthe v arious games to be played when not in use, the container also forming an accessory for utilization with the game pieces when the Various games are tobe played.

Another object of the invention is to provide the'kit with novel latching means for maintaining the parts thereof in closed position during transportation or storage and which is automatically released as the kit is opened for access to the interior thereof.

A further object is to design the container portion of the kit so that it may be set up in the form of an easel which receives the game pieces when games are to be played so that the game pieces may be readily manipulated and which are held in proper viewing position by the players.

Still another object is to provide novel game pieces which are so constructed that they maybe convertedor changed to present to the players indicia necessary for playing the different games thereby eliminating the necessity of carrying a multiplicity ofsets of `gamespieces normally required in playing each of the various games.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident as :the description proceeds, it being understood that the drawings illustrate merelyja preferred form and that changes may be madewin the Various details so long as they fall within the scope yand spirit of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of my game kit when erected for the playing of games.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the kit when in nested.

position showing the cover partially opened to expose the game pieces therein.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the kit in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the lines 4--4 Of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view 'of the bottom of the container illustrating a portion of the latching mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view of the top in invertedposition to show further details of the latching mechanism and being broken away to conserve space on the drawings.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary exploded view of vone end vof the container showing the relationship of the parts -before the container is closed.

Fig. .8 is a fragmentaryr section View taken along the line 88 of Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of one of the game pieces.

Fig. l() is a vertical sectional View taken along the line lil-10 of Fig. 9.

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Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a View of the front face lof the sectional in= sert before it is folded for insertion into the holder, and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of the reverse side of the sectional insert.

In the drawings there is illustrated a game kit comprising a receptacle or container comprising a top 10, a bottom 11 and a multiplicity of game pieces l13;.

The top 10 consists of a flat lpanel having at one end a downturned marginal flange 14 and having on its lower face a plurality of spaced partition strips 15 secured thereto and the inner side of the flange 14 asshown in Fig. 6.

The partition strips 15 extend the full length of the top 10 and terminate in fingers 16 which project slightly beyond the edge17 of the top for a purpose to be more fully described.

The lingers 16 are formed by eliminating a portion of the partition `strip 15 adjacent the inner wall of the top 10 to provide shoulders 18 with the result that the lingers 16 which are continuations of the partitions 15 will be spaced from the top 10.

At the juncture between the partitions 15 and the downturned yflange 14 and lying to one side of the partitions are `formed horizontally projecting ledges which are spaced from the top panel 16 as likewise seen in Fig. 6 and these ledges 19 and the lingers 16 constitutes parts of the .means for securing the top and bottom of the receptaoletogether.

As .shown in Fig. 7 the 'ledges 19 are shown as small, flat, rectangular blocks which project only a small distance away from the partitions but it will be understood that their shape is not critical so long as ledges are provided which willserve the purpose to be later explained.

The ltop 10 is .likewise .provided with spaced openings 20 adjacent one edge thereof so that the top and bottom may be secured together inr erect position vto form an easel for use in playing the various games.

The bottom 11 of the receptacle is formed quite similarly to the top 10 but in this case the bottom is provided with upwardly directed end ange 21 and marginal side flanges Z2 and 23.

`Asin the case of the top `10, the 'bottom consists of a panel which is coextensive with the. top panel and carries on its inner, upper face a plurality of spaced partition members v24 corresponding in number with the partitions 15 on the top. In this instancethe side, marginal flanges 22v and 23 and the partition members 24 ,terminate short of theedge of the bottom panel a distance equal to the thicknessjof flange 14 of the top member so that when the top'V and bottom are assembledthe top flange 14 lies flush with the edge of the bottompanel as elearly shown in Fig. 3.

Furthermore the partitions 15 on the top and the partition members 24 on the bottom are so spaced that when the container is assembled the partitions lie in side-byside relationship as seen in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which is a fragmentary view of the receptacle bottom it will be seen that theend flange 21 is vprovided with -spaced apertures 25 lying immediately alongsidethe partition member 24 Vadjacent the bottom 11, thebottom wall of the aperture being flush with the upper surface of the bottom and one side Wall being substantially flush with a side wall of the partition member 24 so-.Vthe'ttfthe aperture is unobstructed and may freely receive the Ilatching member which is projected therethrough.

The bottom partition members 24 have at their ends which Vare remote from the end ange 21, vlingers 26 which are formed in the same mannery as the lingers 16, but in this instance the fingers 126 constitute continuations of the upper edges of the partition members 24 Whereas the iingers 16 form continuations of the lower edges of the partitions 15. By this construction the fingers 26 are spaced from the bottom 11 and when the top and bottom -Iare assembled in closed relation the fingers 26 overlie the ledges 19 so that lifting of the top vertically away from the bottom is prevented.

At the opposite end of the container it will be seen from Fig. 3 that the ngers *16 project through the apertures Z5 since the -ngers 16 project beyond the edge 17 of the top. In Athis manner, the top and bottom are secured against 'vertical separation and can only be separated by relative sliding motion `to Withdraw the ngers 1'6 from the apertures 25 and to withdraw the iingers 26 from the ledges 119.

-T he bottom 111 is likewise provided with spaced openings '27 in alignment with the openings 20 in the top so that when it is desired to erect an easel for use with the game pieces it is merely necessary to stand the top and bottom on edge and secure the same together by means of a paper-fastener 28 as shown in Fig. 8 and when so erected it will be seen that the partitions 15 and partition members 24 extend in a horizontal plane to form shelves on which opposing players may place their game pieces so as to be clearly visible.

As stated the receptacle contains a multiplicity of game pieces 1=3 which are shown in more detail in Figs. 9 to 13 of the drawings. As illustrated, each game piece consists of an elongated, rectangular, relatively at, transparent casing 29 which is of hollow construction for the reception of a foldable strip 30 which bears the indicia for the games to be played.

The casing 29 is relatively ilat and is provided at its opposite longitudinal edges with ribs 29' extending in opposite directions from the faces of the casing. By this construction the game pieces are supported by the ribs with the at faces of the pieces spaced from the supporting surface on which the piece is laid so that as the pieces are slid, in playing the various games, the flat faces will not be scratched or marred and thereby obscure the indicia contained within the casing.

As shown in Fig. 9 the casing is open at one end as at 31 and closed at its other end 532 except for an aperture 33 which extends through the end wall 32 and communicates with the interior of the casing 29.

The foldable strip 30 is divided into 3 sections 34, 35 and 36 each of an extent to approximately fill the interior of the casing 29 when inserted therein and to expose an edge thereof through the aperture 33. By means of this construction the strip 30 may be removed from the casing 29 by means of any instrumentality that can be inserted through the aperture 33.

4 mensions correspond approximately with the depth of the receptacle so that when the receptacle is closed the game pieces are held in position and prevented from rattling objectionably.

When a game is to be played, however, the easel structure of Fig. l is erected and the game pieces are placed on the partition 15 with their major axis extending parallel -to the partitions and with the indicia extending vertically for proper reading. Thus, the game pieces may be readily inserted and removed since adequate space is provided for necessary manipulation.

It may be desirable in instances Where a lesser number of game pieces are required than is necessary to fill the complete space between the partitions or the partitions and side walls of the container to provide transversely extending stops 36' against which the end game piece in a row may abut to prevent movement of the row of pieces.

The container and game pieces are preferably made of suitable plastic material but this, of course, is not essential and any suitable material may be used so long as the game pieces or portions thereof are of such constructions that the foldable indicia bearing strip may I be visible through a face thereof.

As indicated each section of the foldable strip 30 bears indicia required for a diterent game such for instance dominoes on section 36, ordinary playing card on section 35 it -being noted that indicia are carried on both sides of the strip so that it may be folded in various ways to expose the proper indicia for a given game through the face of the casing 29. The central section 34 may be left blank or contain any desired advertising matter so that when the strip is positioned in the casing the indicia appearing on the strip will not be visible through the back thereof it being understod that the strip is composed of opaque material.

It will be understood, of course, that a variety of different foldable strips having other indicia thereon may be substituted for the one illustrated and in this manner a large number of games can be played with the same game pieces.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that when the game pieces 13 are being stored in the container that their major axis extends transversely of the overlapped partitions 15 and 24, the pieces being so dimensioned that they will snugly t between the partitions and side walls of the container. Their vertical di- By the foregoing construction there is provided a compact, inexpensive, portable game kit which may be readily transported in travelling luggage without occupying too much space but which, at the same time, makes available the accessories necessary in playing a large variety of games. Furthermore, the kit may be set up for playin a simple manner Without the use of any tools and when in stored condition is latched in closed position with the game pieces snugly held against shifting, rattling, or loss.

Iclaim:

l. A game kit comprising a container comprising a top cover panel and a lower bottom panel, said panels having cooperating side and opposite end flanges so as to form a receptacle when the panels are disposed one on the other with the flanges in interlitting relation, spaced partition members extending longitudinally of the top panel and depending therefrom from the inner sur- -face thereof, and spaced partition members extending longitudinally of the bottom panel and projecting upwardly from the inner surface thereof, said partition members lying in side Iby side slidin-g relation Within container when the container is closed to form a plurality of compartments, and slidingly engageable cooperative latching parts carried by the partition member of each panel and the opposite panel respectively to releasably secure the panels together.

2. In a game kit, a receptacle for receiving a plurality of game pieces, said receptacle comprising a top section and a bottom section having an end wall liange means for supporting one section on the other for sliding movement Iand latch means for securing said sections against vertical separation, said latch means comprising longitudinally extending partition strips carried by the top section and having reduced nger portions at one end and horizontally extending ledges at their other ends, and longitudinally extending partition strips carried by the bottom section having reduced iinger portions at one end positioned for overlying engagement with the ledges on said top portion, and said bottom section having apertures in said end Wall positioned to receive the reduced fingers on said top section When the sections are slidingly moved in respect to one another to operatively position the latch parts.

3. In a game kit, a receiptacle comprising relatively slidable upper and lower panel members, each of said members carrying inwardly-directed, longitudinally-extending partition strips disposed in the direction of sliding movement of the panel members and forming compartments for the reception of game pieces therebetween, one

- of said panel members having an end flange provided with apertures and the partition strips of other said member having reduced ngers on the end thereof positioned for passing through said apertures to hold the panels against vertical separation when the panel members are slidingly moved in the direction of said partition strips to operatively position the panels with respect to each other.

4. In a game kit, a receptacle comprising an upper panel member and a lower panel member, each of said members carrying inwardly-directed, longitudinally-extending partition strips forming compartments for the reception of game pieces therebetween, said panel members being arranged for limited sliding movement with respect to each other in the direction of said strip, one of said panel members having an end flange provided with apertures and the partition strips of other said member having reduced fingers on the end thereof positioned for passing through said apertures to hold the panels against vertical separation, said other panel at the end opposite said ange carrying horizontal inwardly-directed ledges spaced from said panel and the partition strips on said first panel having fingers positioned for overlying engagement with said ledges to hold the panels against vertical separation when the panel members are slidingly moved into operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,227 Moog Mar. 8, 1904 1,839,558 Hutchinson Ian. 5, 1932 1,882,890 Porter Oct. 18, 1932 1,887,300 Goldstein Nov. 8, 1932 1,934,362 Levkoi Nov. 7, 1933 2,087,159 McGuckin July 13, 1937 2,253,823 Suteras Aug. 26, 1941 2,587,726 Holder Mar. 4, 1952 2,596,773 Horikawa May 13, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 612,789 Great Britain Nov. 17, 

